Let me tell you something – choosing your starting clan in Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 is probably the most important decision you’ll make in the entire game. I’ve spent countless hours playing through VTMB2 with every single clan, and I’m here to share everything I’ve learned about which clan will give you the best start to your undead journey in Seattle.
When I first booted up Bloodlines 2, I was completely overwhelmed by the clan selection screen. Six different vampire clans, each with their own unique abilities, playstyles, and difficulty levels? It’s enough to make any new player’s head spin. But after experimenting with all of them extensively, I’ve figured out exactly which clans work best for different types of players.
What Are Clans in Bloodlines 2?
Before I dive into my recommendations, let me explain what clans actually are in VTMB2. Think of clans as your character class – they determine your starting abilities, your passive skills, and your overall approach to combat and social situations. Each clan comes with four active abilities, one passive ability, and one clan perk that’s unique to them.
The cool thing about Bloodlines 2 is that you’re not completely locked into your clan’s abilities forever. You can eventually learn abilities from other clans, but it’ll cost you more ability points and take longer to unlock. Your clan choice also determines which abilities you’ll have affinity with – meaning they’ll be cheaper and easier to learn.
There are six playable clans in VTMB2: Brujah, Tremere, Banu Haqim, Ventrue, Lasombra, and Toreador. Let me break down each one for you.
Complete Clan Breakdown
Brujah – The Brawlers (Normal Difficulty)
If you’re the type of player who loves to punch first and ask questions never, then Brujah is your clan. These are the badass biker gang members of the vampire world, and they’re all about raw strength and speed.
What I love about Brujah:
- Their passive ability, Brutality, makes all your attacks temporarily stronger after feeding – perfect for chaining fights
- Lightning Strike lets you unleash a flurry of punches at multiple enemies
- Earthshock is an amazing AOE slam that clears out groups of enemies
- They’re incredibly tanky with high physical resistance
- Perfect for players who hate stealth and just want to smash through everything
The downsides:
- Not much finesse here – if you prefer subtle approaches, this isn’t for you
- Can get overwhelmed in large groups if you’re not careful
Best for: Players who want a straightforward, action-packed experience and love melee combat.
Tremere – The Blood Mages (Normal Difficulty)
I’ll be honest – Tremere is probably my personal favorite clan, even though they can be tricky for beginners. These are your vampire wizards, wielding terrifying blood magic that can end fights before they even begin.
What makes Tremere special:
- Blood Curse is their signature ability – curse an enemy and they’ll explode the next time they take damage
- Cauldron of Blood boils your target’s blood, making them scream and draw other enemies close
- Recall lets you mark a location and teleport back to it, obliterating any enemies standing on the mark
- Blood Salvo throws magical projectiles that can one-shot weaker enemies
- They have the longest range melee attack of any clan
The challenges:
- They’re pretty blood-hungry – most abilities cost 3-5 blood pips
- Relatively low physical resistance (you’re basically a squishy wizard)
- Early game lacks crowd control options
Best for: Players who love spellcasting, ranged combat, and planning their attacks carefully.
Ventrue – The Leaders (Easy Difficulty)
If you’re new to VTMB2 or just want an easier time, Ventrue is hands down your best bet. These are the vampire aristocrats, born from wealth and power, and they have incredible crowd control abilities.
Why Ventrue is great for beginners:
- They’re the only clan with an “Easy” mastery rating
- Their passive lets them resist damage over time, making them surprisingly tanky
- Mass Manipulation is a game-changer – it makes your control abilities affect multiple enemies at once
- Possession lets you take control of enemies and make them fight each other or even walk off buildings
- Cloud Memory can save you if you’re caught sneaking
- They have the best crowd control in the game
The drawbacks:
- Not as flashy as other clans
- Some abilities require staying hidden, which isn’t their strong suit
Best for: New players, those who want an easier experience, or players who love controlling the battlefield.
Toreador – The Artists (Normal Difficulty)
Toreador are the graceful, seductive vampires of high society. They’re not the strongest in combat, but they make up for it with incredible mobility and social abilities.
What I love about Toreador:
- Entrancing Kiss is amazing – it turns powerful enemies into temporary allies
- Blink lets you teleport around the battlefield, even damaging enemies you land on
- Their passive increases speed after feeding, making them incredibly mobile
- They’re surprisingly tough despite their elegant appearance
- Great for players who like to dart in and out of combat
The challenges:
- Not as powerful in straight-up fights as Brujah or Tremere
- Require good positioning to make the most of their abilities
Best for: Players who love mobility, crowd control, and a more elegant playstyle.
Banu Haqim – The Assassins (Hard Difficulty)
Banu Haqim are the stealth specialists of VTMB2 – silent predators who strike from the shadows and disappear before their enemies know what hit them.
What makes Banu Haqim unique:
- Their passive makes them silent after feeding, perfect for stealth
- They can become completely invisible with certain abilities
- Fastest melee attack speed of any clan
- Abilities like Unseen Aura and Split Second let you reposition mid-fight
- Highly versatile with access to many cross-clan abilities
The challenges:
- Hard difficulty rating – not beginner-friendly
- The game isn’t always kind to stealth playstyles
- Can be punishing if you get caught
Best for: Experienced players who love stealth and precision strikes.
Lasombra – The Shadow Masters (Hard Difficulty)
Lasombra are the masters of darkness, using shadows to trap, isolate, and terrify their enemies. They’re probably the most unique clan in VTMB2, but also the hardest to master.
What’s cool about Lasombra:
- Enter Oblivion creates a pocket dimension where you can isolate and eliminate groups of enemies
- Shadow Step lets you bounce between enemies for easy feeding
- Stygian Shroud prevents mortals from attacking while you feed
- Incredibly flexible when you master their abilities
- Perfect for players who love creative problem-solving
The major challenges:
- Hardest clan in the game to play effectively
- Require lots of practice and creative thinking
- Can feel underpowered if you don’t use their abilities correctly
Best for: Expert players looking for a challenge and those who love mastering complex mechanics.
My Top Recommendations
After playing through VTMB2 multiple times with every clan, here are my personal recommendations:
Best Overall Starting Clan: Ventrue
I know some people might disagree with me, but I genuinely believe Ventrue is the best starting clan for most players. They’re the only clan with an “Easy” difficulty rating, and their crowd control abilities make even the toughest fights manageable. When I was learning the game’s mechanics, Ventrue gave me the breathing room I needed to understand the combat system without getting constantly overwhelmed.
Best for Action Lovers: Brujah
If you’re like me and sometimes just want to smash through everything in your path, Brujah is absolutely fantastic. Their abilities are straightforward, they’re incredibly durable, and there’s nothing more satisfying than clearing a room with Earthshock or Lightning Strike.
Best for Strategy Players: Tremere
Tremere requires more thought and planning, but when you pull off the perfect Blood Curse + Cauldron of Blood combo and watch an entire group of enemies explode, it’s absolutely magical. They’re my personal favorite because they reward smart play and careful positioning.
Best for Stealth Players: Banu Haqim
If you’re patient and love the thrill of taking down enemies one by one without being detected, Banu Haqim is your clan. They’re challenging, but incredibly rewarding when you master their stealth mechanics.
Clan Comparison Table
Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
| Clan | Difficulty | Combat Style | Best For | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ventrue | Easy | Crowd Control | Beginners | Best defensive abilities |
| Brujah | Normal | Melee Brawler | Action lovers | High damage & durability |
| Tremere | Normal | Ranged Magic | Strategy players | Powerful area effects |
| Toreador | Normal | Mobile Control | Agile players | Speed & positioning |
| Banu Haqim | Hard | Stealth Assassin | Patient players | Precision strikes |
| Lasombra | Hard | Shadow Manipulation | Expert players | Creative solutions |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my clan later in the game?
No, your clan choice is permanent once you make it. However, you can learn abilities from other clans as you progress, though it’ll cost more ability points.
Which clan is best for a first playthrough?
I highly recommend Ventrue for your first playthrough. They’re the most forgiving clan with the easiest learning curve, and their crowd control abilities make tough fights much more manageable.
Are any clans completely bad?
Not really! Every clan can be effective in the right hands. However, Lasombra and Banu Haqim are definitely more challenging and might frustrate new players.
What happens if I pick a clan that doesn’t suit my playstyle?
You might struggle a bit at first, but you can adapt by learning abilities from other clans that better match your preferred playstyle. It’ll just take more time and resources.
Which clan has the best story?
Honestly, all clans have access to the same main story. Your clan choice affects gameplay more than narrative, though different clans might have unique dialogue options in certain situations.
Final Thoughts
Choosing your starting clan in Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 is a big decision, but don’t stress about it too much. I’ve had amazing playthroughs with every single clan, and part of the fun is discovering which playstyle suits you best.
If you’re still unsure, I’d say go with Ventrue for your first playthrough. They’ll give you the smoothest introduction to VTMB2’s mechanics, and you can always try a more challenging clan on your second playthrough.
Remember, the best clan is ultimately the one that you enjoy playing the most. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own favorite approach to being a vampire in Seattle.
Have you decided which clan you’re going to start with? I’d love to hear about your experiences with different clans in the comments below!
Want more VTMB2 content? Check out our other vampire game guides and stay tuned for more Bloodlines 2 coverage as we dive deeper into Seattle’s undead underworld.